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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Happy New Year (okay....not quite yet but close enough)!!!! Helen, aka LifeScraps, here to bring you the last post of 2-0-0-9, woo-hoo! Jennifer....thank you for the chance to guest for you this month. You are such a sweetheart, truly :)

This Thursday tidbit is something I need desperately to work on for 2010! I don't know about you but I am HORRIBLE about keeping track of my credits as I scrap. For me, it isn't so much that I don't know how or can't find a way that works for me....it's simply that I forget. But, for many, they DON'T know how or CAN'T find that certain way that works for them. So, that is today's tidbit.....layout credits! FYI: I am just copying this from Simple Scrapper (one of my mostest favorite blogs to follow).

Have you ever been all set to upload a layout and realize you’ve used papers from 2 designers, elements from another and an alpha from yet another… and you don’t remember which 4 designers it was? I think we’ll all been there at some point, even when we know that keeping track of product credits is so important.

There are many ways to do keep it all organized, but its up to you to find one that fits your routine. Simple Scrapper offers three options that just might work for YOU.

1. Use a Table of Contents – Create a new Word document and drag your web-ready images into it. Under each image, list the credits as well as where you’ve uploaded the layout.

2. Use Layers – In your PSD or other graphics file, label each layer with the designer and kit name.

3. Tag It – Use an image organization program, like ACDSee to tag your final layouts with the designer and kit name.

What we don’t recommend is relying solely on one gallery to store your layout “metadata”. While big sites do have backups, nothing is foolproof. Make sure YOU have a backup.

It only takes an extra minute for each layout to keep your records up to date. No excuses! I would like to add ONE more. It is the one I use (when I remember to do it, that is). I use PSE 6.0 and under FILE is a tab called File Info. I like to list my credits in the Copyright section so when it comes time to post in a gallery I can copy/paste the information as needed. I do not save my .psd layouts once I am completely done with a layout so it is nice to know this information is saved even in the .jpeg format. You just have to open your layout in your PSE program and you can get to the credits.

So, how do YOU keep track?? Leave a comment and let us know. Happy Scrapping :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Happy Holidays, digiscrap fans! My CT girls are all so excited for the holiday season and we wanted to give you, our loyal blog readers, a super fun giftie to celebrate. I have to say that the girls really did an AMAZING job on these templates and I hope you enjoy them as much as I am. I am truly blessed with the best CT ever! ♥

Check out this FREEBIE template set: Isn't it fabulous?!?! These templates are ready for you to download. There are 2 downloads:

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Hi'ya! Helen, a.k.a. LifeScraps, here to bring you this Sunday's spotlight post! I am guesting for Jennifer this month and was excited to try my hand at blogging for a designer. Never done that before. I blog regularly but on my own personal blog. This is new and I love trying new things!

Moving on....I chose to spotlight a member of Jennifer's fabulous creative team. Today, the spotlight is on, none other than one of Jennifer's more recent memebers, (drum roll please) the fabulous, the creative and talented, but above all sweetest gals I know in digiland.....

Trina a.k.a. slurpeegirl13

Let's get to know "slurpeegirl13" a little better, shall we? I asked Trina to answer some questions and here are her answers:

1. Tell us a little about the non-scrapbook-related “Trina”.

There's a non-scrapbook related Trina? Just kidding. I'm mommy to an almost-2 year old, wife for 3.5 years, admin assistant at a meat packing plant. I love Harry Potter, Twilight and JD Robb books, well any mystery type books really. I'm proudly Canadian, except when it's -40 out - then I'm just Canadian lol. I am addicted to both slurpees and steeped tea from Tim Horton's.

2. How long have you been a digi-scrapper & how did you get started?

6 Years this Christmas Day! I got the CK Scrapbook Designers program for Christmas, 2003, and I have never turned back to paper scrapping.

3. How long have you been with Jennifer Fox Designs as a CT member?

Today is the 19th ... so 19 days. I guested in November and joined full time Dec. 1st.

4. What program do you use to scrap with and have you always used it?

I use PS CS2 and am saving up for CS4. I have used a couple scrapbook designers, Digital Image Suite, PS7 and now CS2.

5. Do you do any traditional or hybrid scrapping?

Paper - nope. Hybrid - I'm starting to, mainly cards but I also did some exploding boxes for Christmas.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Hi everyone...Jessica here today to bring you a spotlight on this absolutely beautiful kit Six O'Clock Wedding available over @ Polka Dot Plum.

I mean how can you resist the gorgeous color combinations and super fun elements. It is perfect for more then just wedding layouts though. Here are some examples I found in the galleries as well as something I came up with when playing with the kit.

Mine:

Jump by Scrappurple:Perfectly Imperfect by ttklewis:July Sixth by Kelly:So if you have not got this kit in your stash head on over to Polka Dot Plum and pick it up!! You will not regret it. If you get it come back and share your own layout so we can leave some love!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Kim (Sprauncey1) here with your freebie this Friday. Can anyone else hear that sound? Tic tic tic... It is crunch time for getting stuff done for Christmas! I don't know, maybe you are like me a few years back that had everything done by Thanksgiving and can sit back and laugh at the rest of us running around like chickens, but keep the snickering down....OK? Me...well I have my calendars printed and bound at least. Half of them are mailed off, the other half not, and none of my presents for the nieces and nephews are even bought yet. And don't talk to me about Christmas cards! Sigh!So for this Friday Freebie, I thought that if you are like me and not likely to get some stuff done in time, at least we can be ahead in another area. So I made us all some thank you cards for after Christmas to send out. Grandma's always love those!

I used Jennifer's beautiful Take Me Away kit at Polka Dot Plum.And so I created this card front, that literally you just can print out two to a sheet (both images on the right side so it folds right), fold, write and mail! Easy right? And you can start the New Year off ahead of the game! Here's my cards all printed out, you may be able to see I got a little ambitious and added a tiny bit of glitter, but you don't have to do that.

And this is what the digital image looks like when you download it:Download here

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Hey everyone! It's Mandy aka chastml. Tomorrow is my youngest daughter's first birthday. I can't believe it! How did the past year go by so quickly? We're going to have a small family party at home for her. You know, dinner she can eat with her hands, her own little cake she can eat with her hands and a present wrapped in birthday paper. I don't want her to ever feel like her birthday isn't special enough for its own present in birthday paper. Even if that birthday paper is red. It also has puppies in party hats, so it's definitely not Christmas paper.

I would love to hear how parents of December babies celebrate their children's birthdays. How do you make sure your child has a special day amongst the hubbub of the holidays? Do you throw a party? Do you make sure there's a birthday present? Do you do something different? Please leave a comment. I would love to have some additional ideas for next year.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Hi everyone, Trina (slurpeegirl13) here to bring you some gorgeousness. Since there's no new release this week, I decided to pick my favorite Jennifer Fox Designs kit and show you some layouts I found using it in the galleries. The kit is 'Bubblegum Beauty', a collab between Jennifer and Tracie Stroud (preview is linked).

Isn't it purdy? I love the colors - perfect if you have a little girl but the blues thrown in there for the boys in your life. And here is some inspiration I found randomly in the galleries:

By Manderin Oranges:

By Leila:

By emmasmom:

By Alixwest:

And last but not least, by 1girl1boy (Leslie)

Have you used Bubblegum Beauty? Link us up to your page in the comments section so we can see! And if you haven't got it yet, what are you waiting for???

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Good Sunday morning to all of you out there in digiland! It's freeeezing here in the Midwest but we have yet to have snow. *knock on wood* I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend wherever you are and I'm gonna make it a little sweeter ;) I am a nosy person by nature...just how I'm wired. SO, today I'm bringing you a get to know you about our very own designer extraordinaire, Miss Jennifer Fox, along with a lil' freebie that Jennifer made just for you.

I'm a 30 year old retired elemetary school teacher turned SAHM of two darling kids. I've been married to my college sweetheart for going on 9 years. I'm obsessed with photography, scrapbooking (digi and paper), yoga, and Appalacian State football. I've been "officially" designing for about 9 months, but dabbling before that. I'm pretty much an open book and wear my heart on my sleeve.

What made you start designing?

I had been scrapping for a long time and sometimes got frustrated when I couldn't find what I needed to make a layout look the way I wanted. I started playing around with creating some stuff on my own and enjoyed it. I entered a designer contest at Funky Playground and ended up being offered a spot in the store. It's just kind of taken off from there.

Which do you prefer scrapping or designing?

Depends on the day. Sometimes I really prefer to just relax and scrap--plus, scrapping is really something I do for my family, so I freak out a bit if I get too far behind. Other times I'm just feeling more creative and that's when I do my best designing.

What's your favorite kit so far....?

I really, really love Such a Hoooot!

Do you have any inspiration when it comes to designing?

I get inspiration from so many places. My CT girls are a HUGE help. I love fabrics, catalogs, bedding, wedding sites, etc. I really love to play with colors and that is usually a starting point for me.

Do you have prefer single photo layouts or multiphoto layouts?

Hmmm...probably multi.

Your fave movie?

No way I can name one. The last movie that really blew me away was Seven Pounds. Just wow. I love chick flicks, though--Sweet Home Alabama, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Failure to Launch are some that I'll watch whenever they're on.

Book?

The Shack. In a close second is The Love Dare--not exactly a novel, but very important to me.

Skittles or M&M's?

M&Ms. Duh. Chocolate.

What's your favorite word?

Ridiculous

Which came first...the chicken or the egg?

Bacon. Really. I love bacon.

Do you recycle?

Yes.

What's one thing that no one would believe if you told them?

I was *this* close to going to med school, but decided last minute that having a family was more important to me and the years of sacrifice just weren't worth it. I loved teaching, love being a SAHM, but still question that decision.

Isn't she just the cutest, ever? Now that you know a little bit more about Jennifer, how about a little freebie? I admired Jennifer's scrapping skills LONG before she became a designer and I love when she makes templates because it lets me scrap a little like her! Soooo, today, I have a little template that Jennifer made so you too can scrap just like her.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

A couple of weeks ago we got our family picture taken for our Christmas cards! I was lucky because it was still warm enough to take photos outdoors. However, it has gotten much colder since then and I'm sure many of us will be taking Christmas photos INDOORS!!!

So, if your house is like mine and you have less than ideal backgrounds in your home for a good backdrop, here are some ideas you might be able to use to give your photos that professional look.

All of these ideas should give you a wide variety of different patterns and textures to play with. You probably want to stay away from anything too glossy. Also, if your background is a little too busy you can adjust your aperture to a low value so that the background will be more blurred and less distracting in your photo.

I hope you have fun using some of these backdrop ideas in your own photos!

Matilda Jane

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Disclaimer

As a creative team member for several digital scrapbook designers, I have received their products for free in return for creating and posting projects (digital layouts, hybrids projects, etc). Many of the layouts you see here were done in conjunction with requirements for these creative teams. Please be advised that the products used were indeed received for free.